The Party Leads All: The Evolving Role of the Chinese Communist Party

The Communist Party of China (CPC) plays a significant role in governing China, with its policies touching nearly every aspect of life. Under the leadership of Xi Jinping, the Party determines much of what is permitted and prohibited in the country's social, economic, and political activity, as well as China's increasingly consequential foreign relations. However, the Party has faced limits on what it can control, and it may encounter new obstacles ahead. This book addresses important questions about the current and future roles of the party, including how Xi's tenure has brought a qualitative increase in the pursuit of party control, how party rule is shaped and exercised by internal party dynamics, the party's control over the state, society, economy, foreign affairs, government institutions and rules, and ideology. It offers the most comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the party's roles in China's economy, government, civil society, legal system, military affairs, and foreign policy, at a critical moment as the Xi Jinping era in China becomes more evident and as the CCP reaches its 100th anniversary and nears three-quarters of a century in power. It will be essential reading for all scholars, students, and policy-makers interested in contemporary China.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 365 pages
Publication date: 14 June 2022
Publisher: Brookings Institution

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) plays a significant role in governing China, shaping nearly every aspect of life in the country and dominating some. A well-known phrase often attributed to the era of Mao Zedong states, "The Party leads all." Under the leadership of Xi Jinping, the CCP has exerted considerable influence over social, economic, and political activities in China, as well as its increasingly influential foreign relations. However, the CCP has always faced limitations in its ability to control, and it may encounter new challenges in the future. This book addresses crucial questions about the current and future roles of the party, including whether Xi Jinping's tenure has brought a significant increase in the pursuit or achievement of party control. It explores the internal dynamics of the party, its control over the state, society, economy, foreign affairs, government institutions and rules, and ideology. Additionally, it assesses the threats to party strength and success posed by Xi's approach to power, corruption within the party, a rapidly changing society, a fraught international environment, or an overly ambitious agenda for party control. Leading scholars from various disciplinary perspectives examine these questions, focusing on specific areas of the party's efforts to lead, control, or influence the world around it. This book provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the party's roles in China's economy, government, civil society, legal system, military affairs, and foreign policy. It is particularly timely, as the full contours of the Xi Jinping era in China become more evident and as the CCP approaches its 100th anniversary and nears its three-decade mark.

Weight: 642g
Dimension: 151 x 226 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780815739517